Beserk: The Kushan, Explained

Key Takeaways

• The Kushan Empire had a large army, organized with powerful magic users and supernatural beings.
• The Bakiraka Clan, former elite guards of Midland, sided with Emperor Ganishka to return to their lost homeland.
• The Kushan use horrific tactics such as mass killings and enslavement, using supernatural beings and war machines to fight.

Berserk is a very dark and gritty Seinen manga series that has had emotional peaks and valleys over the years. However, none of the valleys were as brutal or iconic as Eclipse, where Griffith shed all of his humanity by sacrificing the entire band to become eldritch members of the the Godhand called Femto. He then proceeded to establish his kingdom under the name of Falconia.

However, despite bringing death and destruction to those closest to him to achieve his goals, Griffith did not consider introducing the Kushan. These people had a presence in the world Berserk long ago, but now, they claim to be enemies of Griffith and his kingdom. So, let's see who the Kushans are and how important they are to the whole story.

Who is Kushan?

Why Are They So Important?

The Kushan Empire was a large one that was far from the Midland lands and far to the east of all the countries included in the banner of the Holy Covenant. Due to Falconia's rapid expansion across the world, the Kushan Empire feared that they would be next, prompting them to fight Griffith and all his forces.

The Kushan Empire was first shown in the series during the reign of Emperor Ganishka who was also an Apostle, although unlike others like him, he was against the Gods, especially Griffith, and sought the defeat him to exercise his control over everyone. corner of the world. However, the class of this Empire is made up of many clans that all fight for absolute power, with the Bakiraka being the most prominent. These powerful clans gather in meetings called Kurultai where they discuss the country and its future.

The main reason why the Kushan were so powerful was their military system, which was very large and well organized, including powerful magic users and supernatural beings. Their strength was so great that they fought against the Holy Land, leading them to invade and occupy much of what is now Midland.

Moreover, they are very cunning and resourceful in their approach to battle. By taking over most of the land, they created great war machines and siege engines to use against their enemies, as well as having large numbers of slaves taken from many of the lands they captured for cheap and plentiful labor. and also a means of constantly increasing the ranks of his army.

I control the largest territory in the world. I will not allow it. Though bloodstained and defiled, the world is mine.

One of their most effective strategies is the Pishaca Gana; which are dangerous supernatural beings controlled by various sorcerers within the ranks of the Kushan army, led by the infamous Daiba. They work with soldiers and are often accompanied by creatures called Daka, who are themselves hideous crosses between human fetuses with evil magic. Create giant, half-demon creatures that are very powerful.

The basis of the entire system of the Kushan Empire was fear, which was reinforced by the terrible tactics they used when they invaded Midland. They often killed entire villages and kept the remnants as slaves or even cattle. However, they suffered heavy losses against Griffith and his forces, leading to the collapse of most of the Empire's presence in the Midlands.

The Bakiraka tribe

A powerful force of Kushan warriors

The Bakiraka were one of the most powerful tribes within the Kushan Empire but were driven out centuries ago, leading to their presence in the Midland. Because of this, they took a heavy blow to their pride as they became known across the continent as nothing more than a clan of assassins for hire for their ability to fight against the rest of the world. The clans allied themselves with what they considered to be the strongest, which is why they became the guardians of the royal family of Midland.

To restore the clan to its former glory, they sided with Emperor Ganishka in his war against Griffith as they saw it as a way to return to their homeland. This tribe, especially Silat, has had one of the biggest roles of all the major factions in the whole history, and today, they play a big role in what can happen. in the future for Guts and his friends.

Berserk can be streamed on Crunchyroll and Amazon Prime.